FORM 6-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 Report of Foreign Private Issuer Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 July 21, 2006 Commission File Number 001-14978 SMITH & NEPHEW plc (Registrant's name) 15 Adam Street London, England WC2N 6LA (Address of registrant's principal executive offices) [Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.] Form 20-F X Form 40-F --- --- [Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1).] Yes No X --- --- [Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7).] Yes No X --- --- [Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2 (b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.] Yes No X --- --- If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b) : 82- n/a. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. Smith & Nephew plc (Registrant) Date: July 21, 2006 By: /s/ Paul Chambers ----------------- Paul Chambers Company Secretary NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES 1. Name of company Smith & Nephew plc 2. Name of shareholder having a major interest The Capital Group Companies, Inc. 3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's spouse or children under the age of 18 Non-beneficial 4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of shares held by each of them Capital Guardian Trust Company: State Street Nominees Ltd 1,766,450 Bank Of New York Nominees Ltd 1,940,208 Northern Trust 243,500 Chase Manhattan Bank Australia Ltd 8,500 Chase Nominees Ltd 9,423,874 BT Globenet Nominees Ltd 441,100 Midland Bank plc 1,370,200 Cede & Co 144,500 Deutsche Bank Mannheim 4,500 Bankers Trust 384,200 Barclays Bank 18,900 Brown Bros 42,700 Nortrust Nominees 3,255,874 MSS Nominees Ltd 64,700 State Street Bank & Trust Co 156,600 Deutsche Bank AG 3,600 Citibank NA 32,000 HSBC Bank plc 2,900 Mellon Bank NA 127,900 ROY Nominees Ltd 23,900 Mellon Nominees (UK) Ltd 668,000 HSBC 32,200 JP Morgan Chase Bank 951,633 Capital International Ltd: State Street Nominees Ltd 26,200 Bank of New York Nominees 861,706 Northern Trust 291,944 Chase Nominees Ltd 620,993 Midland Bank plc 108,100 Morgan Guaranty 77,500 Nortrust Nominees 501,472 State Street Bank & Trust Co 118,700 Citibank 318,400 Deutsche Bank AG 24,700 HSBC Bank plc 302,865 Mellon Bank NA 28,700 KAS UK 29,100 Bank One London 31,300 Raiffeisen Zentral Bank 296,700 Fortis Bank 10,500 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 6,500 Nordea Bank 57,000 Bayerische Hypo Und Vereinsbank AG 9,600 Capital International SA: Chase Nominees Ltd 387,700 Midland Bank plc 11,000 Pictet & Cie 45,100 State Street Bank & Trust Co 30,300 Lloyds Bank 16,800 HSBC Bank plc 127,500 JP Morgan Chase Bank 10,800 Metzler Seel Sohn & Co. 10,200 Capital Research and Management Company: State Street Nominees Ltd 21,275,237 Chase Nominees Ltd 102,345,600 JPM Nominees Ltd 28,000 State Street Bank & Trust Co 182,000 Capital International Inc State Street Nominees Limited 565,300 Bank of New York Nominees 212,800 Northern Trust 13,400 Chase Nominees Limited 664,200 Bankers Trust 9,800 Nortrust Nominees 116,900 State Street Bank & Trust Co 41,800 Citibank 7,900 Citibank NA 115,900 HSBC Bank plc 29,600 JP Morgan Chase Bank 33,200 5. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired Not disclosed 6. Percentage of issued class Not disclosed 7. Number of shares / amount of stock disposed ................................................................ 8. Percentage of issued class ................................................................ 9. Class of security Ordinary shares of US 20 cents 10. Date of transaction 19.07.06 11. Date company informed 21.07.06 12. Total holding following this notification 151,110,956 13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification 16.04% 14. Any additional information ................................................................ 15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries Phil Higgins - Assistant Company Secretary 020 7960 2228 16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making this notification Phil Higgins - Assistant Company Secretary Date of notification 21.07.06 The FSA does not give any express or implied warranty as to the accuracy of this document or material and does not accept any liability for error or omission. The FSA is not liable for any damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise from the use of or inability to use this document, or any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this document or any such material.